Rooney: I had sex with prostitutes

England football star Wayne Rooney admitted today he had visited massage parlours and had sex with prostitutes.

The Everton striker said he had been "young and stupid" and regretted his mistake.

The 18-year-old issued the statement in response to allegations in the Sunday Mirror that he had visited a brothel in his home city Liverpool.

Rooney told the paper: "Foolish as it now seems I did on occasions visit massage parlours and prostitutes.

"It was at a time when I was very young and immature and before I had settled down with Coleen.

"I now regret it deeply and hope people may understand that it was the sort of mistake you make when you are young and stupid."

Rooney's agent Paul Stretford today confirmed the statement was correct and said the player would be making no further comment.

The revelations will come as a further blow for the Euro 2004 star's fiancee Coleen McLoughlin.

Last month the couple were reported to have split up following claims that Rooney had slept with an escort girl.

Aspiring actress Coleen, also 18, and Rooney are childhood sweethearts who met on the streets of Croxteth, Liverpool, where they grew up.

The pair, who announced their engagement last year, recently moved to a £1.5 million house in the affluent suburb of Formby where their neighbours include fellow Everton players Duncan Ferguson and Alan Stubbs as well as snooker player John Parrot.